The Star-News

Marching in the mall

On Nov. 10, the Otay Ranch Town Center in Eastlake will transform into a sea of marching bands and entertainment as a salute to local veterans.

This year, the South Bay Family YMCA is partnering with the Parade Band Foundation in collaboration with local sponsors and businesses, including the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce.Veterans Day has a long history with marching bands, which originated from military bands, according to Band Parade Foundation director Charlie Wolf.

Wolf has been a music educator in Southern California for 34 years and is also Eastlake High School’s marching band and orchestra instructor.

“They (marching bands) were there to lead troops into battle in cadence historically … that’s just kind of evolved into our school education system where our marching bands can participate in community events,” Wolf said.

The event marks the third annual band review parade and community festival in Otay Ranch where this year, 28 middle and high school marching bands from Southern California will compete against each other for prizes, awards and scholarships.

The festival will highlight local athletic teams, car clubs, live music and performing groups, carnival booths, food vendors, bounce houses, children’s games, a red carpet event with local dignitaries and a dog parade competition and vendor booths.

“The whole event is meant to bring our entire community together,” Wolf said. “This event is trying to showcase all the great things that Chula Vista has to offer.”

South Bay Family YMCA marketing, business and community relations director Rebecca Kelley said the event is significant since one in five individuals that the YMCA serves is either active, retired or dependents of military members.

The parade will be held from 10 a.m. to noon, with the festival going from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held at Otay Ranch Town Center located at 2015 Birch Road in Chula Vista.